Best Cozy Restaurants in University Heights

144 restaurants available nearby

1. Madison

4.5

Price: Expensive

• Mediterranean • University Heights

Booked 93 times today

With their stunning design, classic cocktails & highly acclaimed fare, Madison finds itself among San Diego's can't miss restaurants! Serving many of Michelin recognized Chef Mario Cassineri classic dishes, perfect for Date Night of celebrating with friends. ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʜᴏᴜʀ - ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴅᴀʏ 4-6ᴘᴍᴛᴜᴇꜱᴅᴀʏ - ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴊᴀᴢᴢ 7-9ᴘᴍᴡᴇᴅɴᴇꜱᴅᴀʏ - ᴅɪɴɴᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅᴏɢꜱᴛʜᴜʀꜱᴅᴀʏ - ᴅᴊ ꜱᴘɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴏʟᴅ ꜱᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ᴠɪɴʏʟꜰʀɪᴅᴀʏ & ꜱᴀᴛᴜʀᴅᴀʏ ɴɪɢʜᴛ - ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴀ ᴘᴀʀᴛʏ ᴡᴇᴇᴋᴇɴᴅ ʙᴏᴏᴢʏ ʙʀᴜɴᴄʜ - ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴅᴊꜱꜱᴜɴᴅᴀʏ ɴɪɢʜᴛ - ʟᴀᴛɪɴ ᴊᴀᴢᴢ 6-8ᴘᴍ

2. Wormwood

4.7

Exceptional(814)

Price: Very Expensive

• French • North Park

Booked 27 times today

Wormwood invites you to explore a bygone era when poets, writers, and painters found inspiration in the Green Fairy. Discover fine Absinthes as we share stories of its golden age and guide your palate on a unique journey.Our restaurant blends French elegance with bohemian charm, creating a cozy haven for food lovers. Each dish, from wagyu tartare to fresh oysters, celebrates local flavors and craftsmanship. Experience curated tastes of our coastal region with passion and finesse.We offer French wines and unique cocktails with a twist on classics. Every meal and drink promises adventure and cherished memories. Discover the fusion of past and present where dining is an unparalleled experience.Enjoy our three dining areas: a cozy indoor space with an open kitchen, an enchanting patio for serene outdoor dining, and the Secret Garden, a speakeasy bar with a unique cocktail menu and Green Hour. We also host private events, from dinners to weddings, ensuring every occasion is memorable.

3. Cowboy Star

4.9

Exceptional(4773)

Price: Very Expensive

• Steakhouse • Downtown

Booked 73 times today

Located in the heart of the East Village neighborhood of San Diego, Cowboy Star is dedicated to providing an unmatched attention to detail and a level of service that immediately sets us apart. Cowboy Star guests are the number one priority and guest satisfaction is the base upon which our entire concept is built. Our level of service is only matched by our celebration of regional American heirloom recipes offered with genuine neighborly hospitality. We are committed to supporting local and regional farmers, fishers and producers by cooking food that recaptures the simple and pure tastes found in locally grown, natural and organic ingredients. We strive to raise awareness of a more sustainable food future, while helping to restore a sense of community that brings us back to a more homegrown time.The Cowboy Star Menu features the finest in select natural products including Niman Ranch all natural beef from the nation's leading Certified Humane Angus herd.

4. Herb & Wood

4.6

Exceptional(6499)

Price: Expensive

• Californian • Little Italy

Booked 95 times today

A timeless, sought-after dining escape, celebrated Chef Brian Malarkey opened Herb & Wood to instant acclaim over four years ago. In that time, the restaurant has become an icon, a dining destination that has helped to propel San Diego's culinary reputation to new heights. By focusing on rustic, wood-fired dishes, Chef Malarkey's menu elevates humble ingredients such as carrots, beets, and chicken, incorporating Mediterranean flavors and a California ethos of seasonality and sustainability.

5. Mister A's

4.9

Exceptional(8712)

Price: Very Expensive

• Contemporary French / American • Downtown

Booked 67 times today

Mister A's is the penthouse, fine-dining destination of San Diego, and has been for over 50 years. Located just a few minutes from downtown, you will take the elevator to the top floor and look back out over jetliners sweeping past at eye level, the San Diego skyline, bay and Pacific, while enjoying Modern American cuisine, hand-crafted cocktails, and one of Wine Spectator's top-rated wine lists in the country. The culinary staff hand-selects local farm produce and the highest quality ingredients in every category to offer you selections that are made from scratch in house for brunch, lunch, dinner.. or simply the finest rooftop drinks and appetizers in town.Please visit our website for specific dress code guidelines: https://www.asrestaurant.com/contact/(Guests not in dress code will be turned away)

6. Juniper & Ivy

4.6

Exceptional(8074)

Price: Expensive

• Unspecified • Little Italy

Booked 90 times today

Juniper & Ivy is cozy and comfortable according to multiple reviews. The decor and ambiance are praised, with one reviewer stating it was 'beautiful and welcoming'. The 'fun vibe' and 'warm and inviting ambiance' are also mentioned. The restaurant seems to provide a unique, innovative, and cozy dining experience.

7. C-Level

4.7

Exceptional(4949)

Price: Moderate

• Cocktail Bar • Downtown

Booked 131 times today

Resting on stilts atop San Diego By C Level Lounge, is an upscale-casual lounge on the waterfront overlooking the city skyline and Coronado.

8. Coasterra

4.6

Exceptional(7608)

Price: Moderate

• Mexican • Harbor Island

Booked 118 times today

Coasterra is San Diego's premier bay front dining destination! We are an innovative and modern restaurant, lounge and floating event center, featuring Mexican cuisine.

A photo of Ironside Fish & Oyster restaurant

9. Ironside Fish & Oyster

4.5

Awesome(4571)

Price: Moderate

• Seafood • Little Italy

Booked 114 times today

Little Italy was built by the fishing industry. Ironside attempts to continue that narrative. It's our contemporary interpretation of the classic fish house and oyster bar. Located in a historic auction house on India St we did a full comprehensive restoration of the building, with three open-air culinary hubs featuring an expansive raw bar, chefs table, and bakery. We tried to be mindful of the past while looking towards the future. A 4% surcharge will be added to all guest checks.Ironside is now taking reservations for patio and dining room seating. We are now offering Happy Hour MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 3:00PM - 5:00PM.

10. Animae

4.8

Exceptional(3262)

Price: Very Expensive

• Contemporary Asian • Downtown

Booked 70 times today

ANIMAE’s eclectic West Coast cuisine, layered with Asian influences, comes to life under Celebrated Chef Brian Malarkey. Applying a California cooking style to ANIMAE’S traditional coal-fired oven and grill, Chef Malarkey’s menu is as thoughtful as it is refined, elevating local produce and seasonal ingredients to create a lively and progressive culinary program.

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

G
Giovanna
San Antonio •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
Incredible. The food and service was excellent. It was so vibey. Can’t wait to go back.
More info
Herb & WoodPrice: Expensive• Californian• Little Italy
•
4.6
L
Lois
Las Vegas •47 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
The spouse & I were visiting my daughter, who lives in San Diego. She had not been to Madison & neither had we. We all enjoyed the tomato & burrata appetizer. We also had the cioppino, Tuscan sausage rigatoni & chicken piccata; all were so good! Spouse & I had the Ibarra & The Woodsman, which were delicious. Service from Kylee excellent. We also enjoyed the music. My daughter plans to bring her roommates here.
More info
MadisonPrice: Expensive• Mediterranean• University Heights
•
4.5
K
kelsey
San Diego •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Fantastic experience! The food was great and even on a Wednesday they had a full staff to ensure a great experience.
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Cowboy StarPrice: Very Expensive• Steakhouse• Downtown
•
4.9
D
Dwayne
Dallas - Fort Worth •1 review
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
Mister A’s is a constant in fine dining. The level of attentiveness is extraordinary and is experienced with every interaction. And you can’t beat a burnt orange old fashion.
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Mister A'sPrice: Very Expensive• Contemporary French / American• Downtown
•
4.9
J
Julia
San Diego •1 review
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
my parents are in town visiting, and we brought them here. Not only was everyone lovely, the food was delicious. Everything on the menu seems like it was a conscious choice, and each piece of the meal tasted delicious. We usually don’t order dessert when we go out, but we did this time and didn’t regret it.
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WormwoodPrice: Very Expensive• French• North Park
•
4.7

Best Cozy Restaurants in University Heights

Price

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144 restaurants available nearby

1. Madison

2. Wormwood

3. Cowboy Star

4. Herb & Wood

5. Mister A's

6. Juniper & Ivy

7. C-Level

8. Coasterra

9. Ironside Fish & Oyster

10. Animae

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